Sam Collins joins ‘most underrated’ debate
My colleague Marc McGowan weighed into the “most underrated” debate earlier in the day when he highlighted the performance of Fremantle’s Sam Switkowski. To this endless debate — which usually involves players from off-Broadway teams — we should add the Suns’ doughty full-back Sam Collins.
Best and fairest for the Suns in 2020, he’s a consistent performer in teams that have usually been under siege.
Against Essendon, he did an absolute number on Kyle Langford, one of the form forwards of the competition.
Ky;e Langford and Sam Collins.Credit: Getty
Langford is almost impossible to contain for a whole match, but Collins held him to just a handful of touches. He held together an improving Suns backline that also including sterling performances from Mac Andrew, who was superb with 25 disposals, and the courageous Bohdi Uwland.
A milestone win for the Suns
This was one of the games of the year so far, and it featured one of the best midfield battles.
For the Bombers, Zach Merrett continued his incredible year, lifting the Bombers when his team looked like they were in danger of eclipse.
For the Suns, it was Matt Rowell, Touk Miller and Noah Anderson, repeatedly bursting from the front of stoppages, and more often than not in reply to the Bombers as they continued to surge.
It was the sign of a maturing team. The Suns still can’t win away, and until they start doing so, they won’t be taken seriously as contenders.
But this win was a milestone, against a rising team that kept coming at them all game, in front of a capacity crowd that has rarely been louder. They’re now in the eight. And every other club will start to fear the trip to People’s First Stadium.
Ben Long gives Suns forward line some bite
Ben Long has never been much more than a depth player for the Suns since crossing from St Kilda at the end of 2022.
Ben Long of the SunsCredit: Getty
But, after being deployed mostly as a small defender until now, he’s spent the last month as a small forward — and has rewarded his team with 10 goals in four weeks.
His four goals against the Bombers came in his 100th game. It was a well-rounded performance that also included two direct assists and 13 disposals, and despite not registering a tackle, he chased and pressured hard throughout.
The Suns have lacked bite around the contest since Izak Rankine’s defection to Adelaide, but Long was critical to them getting over the line here.